Psychopath-in-Chief (Author's dad is a serial killer)

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://gregolear.substack.com/p/psychopath-in-chief

“I THINK I have the best temperament or certainly one of the best temperaments of anybody that’s ever run for the office of president. Ever. I’ve been nice, but after watching that performance last night, such lies, I don’t have to be so nice anymore. I’m taking the gloves off, right, yes? Just remember this, Trump is going to be no more Mr. Nice Guy.”

“Normally, I’m a pretty nice guy. I’m sorry, but I am. You know, I’ve raised kids, had a wife, you know, president of the Church, been in Scouts. It goes on and on. But, yeah, I have in mean streak in me, so. And it occasionally flares up, takes control.”

After nearly four years of living under the sniveling pandering of Donald John Trump, the former quote is easily recognizable. The latter? Belongs to my dad, Dennis Rader, whom I lived with for 26 years, carefully treading around his ever-changing tempers, moods, and whims, as if navigating littered broken eggshells. As he says in the quote, Dad is a father of two, was a husband for 34 years, a Scout leader and church president—and the BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) serial killer.

I grew up idolizing my dad, toddling after him, my little hand clinging to his rough calloused one, gardening, fishing, camping. As a young adult, I hiked next to him for a week in the depths of the Grand Canyon, encouraging each other on. Six years after that, he, nearly in tears, walked me down the aisle. I often called him my best friend. He taught me about life, inner strength, and doing the right thing. He embraced me in bear hugs, taught me how to wrap a fishing line, and uproaringly fun, sent me crowd surfing at college football games.

*snip*

[Blue Owl]

1. K&R for thread title alone

[Mike 03]

2. She's the daughter of the BTK strangler.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Rader

[Laelth]

3. Excellent essay. k&r n/t

-Laelth

[7wo7rees]

4. Simply chilling. N/T

[Solly Mack]

5. K&R

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. Tbh, I don't see the comparison.

Rader was a killer who had everybody fooled. With Trump, what you see is what you get, and people either reject it, or fool themselves to accept it.

[triron]

10. Trump has fooled so many as well.

[foo_fighter999]

11. It seems that there are a few similarities.

From the wiki page for Denis Rader:

Massachusetts psychologist Robert Mendoza was hired by Rader's court-appointed public defenders to conduct a psychological evaluation of Rader, and determine if an insanity-based defense might be viable. He conducted an interview after Rader pleaded guilty on June 27, 2005. Mendoza diagnosed Rader with narcissistic, antisocial and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders: He observed that Rader has a grandiose sense of self, a belief that he is "special" and therefore entitled to special treatment; a pathological need for attention and admiration; a preoccupation with maintaining rigid order and structure; and a complete lack of empathy for his victims.

(Emphasis mine.)

Hmmm...sound like anyone you know?

[Caliman73]

13. Today the terms psychopath and sociopath are typically used interchangeably.

There used to be more of a distinction, with psychopaths being thought of as more controlled. More able to blend into typical functioning. Much like Rader is described. On the surface, he seemed like a functional person with emotional attachments.

Trump may have fallen into the sociopath's old definition similar in the lack of empathy and disregard for the rules or belief in their uniqueness, but less capable of emotional regulation, more prone to impulsive actions. I think that Trump's inherited financial resources and protection from his father and those around him like Roy Cohn, Michael Cohen, and others Trump would have had a very different life. Given his personality, it is very likely Trump would have ended up in prison or dead.

He is not a social chameleon like Rader, or Ted Bundy who could convincingly approximate human emotions. He is more like a Charles Manson but like I said, rich and with protection from his father and allies. Trump can't do genuine emotions, except anger. When he tries to seem loving or concerned, it always seems forced and fake.

I agree with you. People aren't really fooled by Trump. They choose to ignore his obvious problems because he offers them the opportunity to openly hate the people they have had to hate in secrecy these past decades.

[Shaddox]

7. Really disturbing and on point.

[klook]

8. Chilling piece, well worth the read.

And Olear's site has several other interesting posts. Thanks much for letting us know about it.

[MustLoveBeagles]

9. K&R

[ellie]

12. Well

that was disturbing.

[pfitz59]

14. My wife is a Psychologist and counsels victims of domestic abuse

She pegged Trump right away. He matches every descriptor of serial abuser. His Niece Mary has him down. Every lay person who's read a true crime novel can recognize Trump. Ted Bundy got away with his crimes because he had a winning smiling. Trump smiles, listen to what he calls a joke. Terrible, terrible things. Yet his cult followers love him. The nation has gone insane. I personally believe "cognitive dissonance" has caught up with the Christo-fascist folk. You can only live a lie so long before going nuts. So they chose the anti-Christ as their new messiah.

[NNadir]

15. That's pretty telling and pretty scary inasmuch...

...it seems pretty accurate.

[StarryNite]

16. kick